Psychology of selfies | Charisse L'Pree | TEDxSyracuseUniversity

Summary

The speaker reflects on the personal journey and significance of selfies, tracing their evolution from a simple desire to feel pretty to a powerful tool for self-expression and identity. They challenge the narrow definition of selfies as mere social media posts, advocating for the recognition of selfies as a modern form of self-portraiture with deep artistic roots. The talk explores how selfies fulfill fundamental psychosocial needs, such as self-esteem, belonging, meaningful existence, and control, and encourages a mindful approach to taking and sharing selfies as a form of self-engagement and art.

Takeaways

• 📸 The speaker's first selfie experience at 14 years old in 1994 was a significant moment of self-appreciation and validation.
• 🤳 Oxford's definition of 'selfie' as a photograph shared via social media is considered too narrow by the speaker, who sees selfies as part of a broader artistic tradition.
• 🎨 The speaker argues that selfies are a digital evolution of the self-portrait, with a long artistic history, citing artists like Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo.
• 🔍 Selfies serve as a means of self-exploration and identity expression, fulfilling fundamental psychosocial needs such as self-esteem, belonging, meaningful existence, and control.
• 📈 Selfies can be a powerful tool for personal empowerment, allowing individuals to document their lives, emotions, and memories.
• 👥 Belonging is not only about physical presence in a selfie but also about symbolic representation, such as affiliation with a group or institution.
• 🌟 The concept of meaningful existence is conveyed through selfies that demonstrate personal relevance and value, such as social justice selfies that connect individuals with broader movements.
• 🎭 The speaker encourages viewing selfies as a form of art, with the potential for mindful self-reflection beyond the immediate gratification of social media likes and shares.
• 📝 Healthy selfies are about self-reflection and journaling, self-appreciation rather than self-objectification, and being artful expressions of one's identity.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of sharing selfies judiciously, recognizing that some selfies are meant for personal reflection rather than public consumption.
• 💖 The final takeaway is an encouragement to embrace one's imperfections through selfies, using them as a means to find and appreciate what makes each person unique.

Q & A

What was the speaker's first experience with taking a selfie like?

The speaker's first selfie experience was at the age of 14 in 1994. She was looking for a good angle to feel pretty and valuable, and when she received the developed film back, she found a picture that made her feel pretty, which she held onto for years to uplift her spirits.

How did the speaker feel about the Oxford definition of 'selfie'?

The speaker believes the Oxford definition of 'selfie' is too narrow, as it implies that a selfie must be shared on social media to be considered a selfie, and it dismisses the artistic history of self-portraiture.

What is the speaker's perspective on the origin of the word 'selfie'?

The speaker notes that the word 'selfie' is derived from 'self' and 'ie', which is often associated with something negative or narcissistic. However, she views selfies as a digital evolution of the self-portrait, with a long artistic history.

How does the speaker relate selfies to the concept of identity?

The speaker sees selfies as a series of self-images that are intricately connected to one's identity. She argues that selfies can fulfill psychosocial needs such as self-esteem, belonging, meaningful existence, and control.

What are the four fundamental psychosocial needs mentioned in the script?

The four fundamental psychosocial needs mentioned are self-esteem, belonging, meaningful existence, and control.

How do selfies fulfill the need for self-esteem according to the speaker?

Selfies fulfill the need for self-esteem by capturing moments and emotions when individuals feel good about themselves, providing a visual record that can be revisited to boost self-worth.

What is the significance of the speaker's most liked selfie on the Internet?

The significance of the speaker's most liked selfie is that it represents a meaningful existence, demonstrating that one's life is relevant and valuable, and that it can have an impact on others.

How do selfies relate to the need for belonging?

Selfies relate to the need for belonging by capturing moments with loved ones, creating a sense of connection and affiliation, even if the photos are not perfect.

What does the speaker suggest as a way to reclaim selfies as art?

The speaker suggests exploring different formats, such as editing selfies into unique designs, commissioning artists to create paintings based on selfies, or printing selfies onto various items to turn them into tangible art.

What is the speaker's definition of a 'healthy selfie'?

A 'healthy selfie', according to the speaker, is one that is used for self-reflection and journaling, promotes self-appreciation rather than self-objectification, is created as an art form, and is shared judiciously.

What is the title of the speaker's selfie book project?

The title of the speaker's selfie book project is 'The Media Made Me Crazy'.

Why does the speaker believe that not all selfies need to be shared?

The speaker believes that not all selfies need to be shared because the most valuable selfies are the ones made for oneself, allowing for personal reflection and appreciation without the need for external validation.